Last class we discussed briefly about Tiresias who appears to Dante in Canto XX. We know from previous readings that Tiresias is a blind prophet, well known in Greek legendary history. It is evident throughout the poem that Dante was influenced and knowledgeable of Greek mythology, but why would he place Tiresias, along with the Soothsayers in the 8th circle of hell? In some of the books that we’ve read in class like “The Odyssey” and “Oedipus the King”, Tiresias wasn’t infamously known as a bad man, In fact his ability to foretell specific events was a gift. He was given this talent from Zeus to recompense for Hera striking him blind. Dante places him in the lowest levels of hell, with the Soothsayers where the torments become more painful and grotesque as they descend, here the shades walked with their heads backwards so that they cannot see what is ahead of them. However one thing I found interesting is how Dante’s imagination believes that someone who foresees the future deserves to be in the deeper levels of hell. It makes sense those humans who wanted to use unholy powers to see ahead in life are to be punished, but if prophesizing is so bad that they deserve this painful punishment, how come Dante gives the other shades in hell the ability to see into the future?
We first see this in Canto VI where the Gluttons are punished, Dante comes across a shade named Ciacco who prophesizes about the city of Florence. In Canto X he also speaks to a shade, Farinata, who prophesies that Dante will soon know the pain of exile. In this canto, Dante asks Farinata how the shades can see into the future and past, but not the present.
If I have heard correctly, all of you
can see ahead to what the future holds
but your knowledge of the present is not clear.”
“Down here we see like those with faulty vision
who only see,” he said, “what’s at a distance;
this much the sovereign lord grants us here.
I find it kind of ironic how sinners are granted by God the ability to prophesize. Why is it that Dante believes other sinners should be able to see the future, but Tiresias who was gifted this ability and not voluntarily using unholy powers to do it placed in this circle of Hell? I also find it interesting how Dante does not mention anything about Tiresias prophesizing, instead just talks about how he lived as a woman and a man. So do you believe Tiresias deserves this punishment? Also, is it fair that the Soothsayers be placed this low into Hell?